c1950s ORIGINAL GROUP OF THREE [3] PORTFOLIOS DETAILING THE SUCCESS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF ONE OF ASIA'S MOST RENOWNED INFRASTRUCTURAL ENGINEERING FIRMS

On offer is a unique and rare group of three photo portfolios dating from mid-20th Century India and Pakistan. Each portfolio measures 14.5 inches by 10 inches and is laid out landscape-style. The first has 78 pages, the second 44 pages and the third 14 pages. All are 100% complete. The pages are thick, glossy paper and the photographs are black and white. The portfolios are a set, entitled Bridges by J.C. Gammon Ltd. Bombay. They contain over 150 black and white photographs of bridges constructed across Indian and Pakistan by J.C. Gammon Ltd, Gammon is one of the largest engineering and physical infrastructure construction companies in Asia. Founded by John C. Gammon in India in 1919, it grew to a network of subsidiaries across Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Gammon was the driving force behind the introduction of prestressed concrete to India. He designed the reinforced concrete piles of the Gateway of India. The foundations of the arch reach deep into the bedrock. With time, he came to be known as the 'Sculptor of Concrete'. Gammon's track record spans significant landmark projects built over decades, with a prominent presence across all sectors of civil engineering, design and construction. It has a track record of building landmark structures, some of which have become iconic. Many of its subsidiary companies were spun off as independent firms but there was always a high level of exchange of staff and technology between them. Jardine Matheson, the British merchant bank established in China in 1832, acquired Gammon's in 1969 The Gammon name can be found across Asia and the Pacific. The portfolios are in excellent condition. Each page features a bridge project undertaken by the firm. The photographs are accompanied by explanatory text such as this: "Patalgana Bridge. A large bridge crossing the Pataganga River near Pen, having a total length of 634 feet. The three centre spans each of 100 feet are designed according to Messrs. Christiani & Nielsen's patent method with inclined hangers. The bridge was built in 1937 to the instructions of Mr. T.A. Andrews, Chief Engineer and Mr. Suleman Tyabji, Superintending Engineer, Bombay Government." This is an excellent collection of key infrastructure projects built by the leading contracting firm in Asia. A Civil Engineer would see these are fine examples of the profession and a historian would be able to chart progress with the construction of these many bridges across the Indian subcontinent. A historian would find these interesting to assess against the backdrop of the drive to independence for India.; Photo Album; 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, 20TH CENTURY, INDIA, PAKISTAN, BOMBAY, MUMBAI, J.C. GAMMON LTD; JARDINE MATHESON; INFRASTRUCTURE CONSTRUCTION IN POST-INDEPENDENCE INDIA; BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION IN INDIA AND PAKISTAN; PHOTOS OF BRIDGES IN INDIA; PHOTOS OF BRIDGES IN PAKISTAN; CIVIL ENGINEERING COMPANIES IN INDIA; PATALGANA BRIDGE; CIVIL ENGINEERING COMPANIES IN BOMBAY, ENGINEERING PROJECTS IN ASIA IN MID-20TH CENTURY, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, DIARY, DIARIES, JOURNALS, PERSONAL HISTORY, SOCIAL HISTORY, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, ANTIQUITÉ, CONTRAT, VÉLIN, DOCUMENT, MANUSCRIT, PAPIER ANTIKE, BRIEF, PERGAMENT, DOKUMENT, MANUSKRIPT, PAPIER OGGETTO D'ANTIQUARIATO, ATTO, VELINA, DOCUMENTO, MANOSCRITTO, CARTA ANTIGÜEDAD, HECHO, VITELA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITO, PAPEL